TP 8 ECOLOGY BIO FLASHCARDS

Taxis

directed movement toward or away from a stimulus

ex: moths flying towards light and fishing swimming upstream

Kinesis

non directional change in activity level in response to environmental conditions

ex: ants wandering actively when searching for food OR cockroaches scurrying randomly when exposed to light

visual

signals seen by other animals

ex: color change , posture, movement

audible

communicate by the use of sounds

ex: chirps, song,

chemical

the process by which animals send and receive information using chemical signals

ex: like releasing perfume , use urine or feces that have pheromones

tactile

transfer of information through direct physical contact between animals, such as touching, grooming, or rubbing

electrical

biological process where primarily aquatic animals (like weakly electric fish) generate and detect weak electric fields to send signals to others

innate behavior

genetically controlled and w/o prior experience

learned behaviors

develops as a result of experience

behavioral adaptions

evolved traits that enhance an organisms ability to communicate effectively

• visual

• audio

• chemical etc.

endotherms

when organisms generate heat and uses it to regulate body temp (warm blooded)

ex: change in heart rate , fat storage, shivering (muscle contractions)

ectotherms

“cold blooded” when organisms rely on external heat and uses energy so they can’t regulate body temp

ex: rely on behavior to regulate temp ( moving in or out of shade)

net positive energy balance

organism take in more energy than it uses allowing for growth, reproduction, and energy storage in form of fat

because gain of energy

net negative energy balance

use more energy than it consumes leading to weight loss, reduced reproductive success, death

because of loss of energy

autotrophs also known as producers

generate their own energy

heterotrophs also known as consumers

rely on organisms for energy

photoautotrophs

like plants and alge use sunlight to produce food through photosynthesis

chemoautotrophs

certain bacteria harness chemical energy from inorganic substances

decomposers

like fungi bacteria break down dead organisms recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem

10 % rule in energy transfer

only 10% of energy from one tropic level is passed onto the next the rest is lost as heat and uses for life processes

Bottom up

starts with resources like sunlight water and nutrients when plants have plenty of these they grow well providing more food for herbivores and predators

Top down

when predators keep prey populations in check which affects food chain predators keep plant life abundant by controlling herbivores

keystone species

regulate population of other organisms preventing imbalances that could disrupt the entire food web when remove it can trigger trophic cascade

Trophic cascade

chain reaction of changes that affect multiple levels of the ecosystem for example the loss of a predator may cause prey populations to grown uncontrollably leading to overgrazing and habitat destruction

Density Dependent

factors that affect population size regardless of the population's density, such as natural disasters, climate changes, or human activities.

Density Independent

influences on population size that occur regardless of the population's density. Examples include natural disasters, climate changes, and human activities. These factors can affect populations even if they are small or large.

Exponential growth

A pattern of population growth where the number of individuals increases by a constant proportion over time, typically resulting in a J-shaped curve when graphed.

Logistical Growth

A model of population growth that describes how a population grows quickly at first and then slows as it approaches the carrying capacity of its environment, influenced by resource limitations.

population growth

<span>the increase in the number of individuals in a population over time, typically characterized by phases of exponential or logistical growth, influenced by environmental factors and resource availability.</span>